NYC Radio Live

Latest Episodes:

Akshara – Ragas Live Festival # 2 Podcast 195 Aug 04, 2016

Show notes

The second set of the historic, Ragas Live Festival 2016, live at Pioneer Works. Akshara (lit. imperishable, immutable, inalterable) is comprised of: Bala Skandan (mridangam), Arun Ramamurthy (violin), Trina Basu (violin), Jay Gandhi (bansuri), Kabilan Jeginathan (kanjira), Max ZT (dulcimer), Shivalik Ghoshal (tabla). Akshara is an exciting dynamic percussion group rooted in Indian classical musical traditions. Comprised of virtuosic performers in Carnatic and Hindustani classical genres, Akshara performs an energetic blend of classical Indian melody and rhythm highlighted with solo and scale-based improvisations. The group performs original compositions by Bala Skandan, demonstrating the powerful and complex rhythmic structures inherent in South Indian classical music. Recorded by James Clark mixed by Sameer Gupta Ragas Live Festival 2016 is produced with the support of The Rubin Museum of Art

Brooklyn Raga Massive’s Ravi Shankar Tribute – Ragas Live Festival # 1 Podcast 195 Jul 30, 2016

Show notes

The blazing first set of the historic, Ragas Live Festival 2016, live at Pioneer Works. Comprising of members of Brooklyn Raga Massive - Neel Murgai (sitar), Sameer Gupta (tabla), Arun Ramamurthy (violin), Eric Fraser (bansuri), Trina Basu (violin), Michael Gam (bass), Samarth Nagarkar (vocal) - the Ravi Shankar Tribute ensemble inaugurates the Brooklyn Ragas live festival by playing several of Pt. Ravi Shankar's compositions. Ragas Live Festival 2016 is produced with the support of The Rubin Museum of Art Recorded by James Clark, mixed by Sameer Gupta.

Awa Sangho/California Honeydrops Jul 27, 2016

Show notes

As we recover from our legendary 24 hour Ragas Live Festival this weekend, we share two great past episodes with talents that will be performing very soon. We'll hear some of Awa Sangho and the BRM's All Stars blistering set as the group is set to return to the Rubin Museum of Art on August 12th. Hear her full set Pioneer Works here. And we'll revisit our chat with Lech Wierzynski of the California Honeydrops who play the knitting factory tonight. More to come!

King Sunny Ade – Podcast 193 Jul 08, 2016

Show notes

Wow! A chance to talk with a legend of African Music, King Sunny Ade! For me this is a dream come true, there are few musicians as influential as King Sunny Ade who brought the Juju music of Nigeria to the world. Here we speak with him in depth about his life and the roots of his music. King Sunny Ade came on the scene in 1966 and made his first big record in 1967. He became an international star across Africa during the mid-1980s, touring and gaining a significant audience in the United States and Europe as well. He is known as "the Minister of Enjoyment" or "the King Of Juju Music." If you are new to the music, I highly recommend you start with his Juju Music or Synchro System albums. Also for the roots of this music search for "apala" music . Much gratitute to World Music Institute for arranging this interview! This episode is supported by the Rubin Museum of Art.

Eric Krasno Podcast 192 Jun 23, 2016

Show notes

Eric Krasno is the amazing guitarist/producer with artists ranging from Soulive and Lettuce (both of which he co-founded)to Norah Jones, 50 Cent, Aaron Neville, Phil Lesh, Derek Trucks, and, well, the list keeps going! To celebrate the upcoming release of his new album, Blood From A Stone, we got to hang with Eric at his home studio, hear him play some guitar and share what he's learned so far in an incredibly prolific career. The new album comes out July 8th.

Jay Gandhi and Abhik Mukherjee bring the rain (part 1) Podcast 191 Jun 06, 2016

Show notes

In part 1 of this podcast we spend time at home with Jay Gandhi (bansuri) and Abhik Mukherjee (sitar) as they prepare for the a special evening of Monsoon Ragas at the Rubin Museum on June 15. The two perform live and share insights and legends about the malhar group of ragas, those that praise the monsoon rains. This episode was broadcast on WKCR 89.9 FM-NY on Sunday June 5th. In part two we hope to share their performance with the virtuoso tabla player Suryaksha Deshpande as the trio perform at the Rubin and the following Brooklyn Raga Massive Jam session.

Raga Cubana – Podcast 190 May 22, 2016

Show notes

Last month, maestro Román Díaz brought a world class group of Afro-Cuban musicians to perform with the Brooklyn Raga Massive All-Stars during the artist collective's epic residency at Pioneer Works. We'll share the recording of that innovative concert, where, for the first time, sarod, bansuri and Carnatic violin dialogue with Afro-Cuban vocals and the sacred Batá drums. This concert will air on WKCR 89.9 FM 7-9pm Sunday May 22nd. Raga Cubana is: Román Díaz ( conductor, Batá: Iyá ) Giancarlo Luigi (Shekere) Clemente la Tierra (Batá: Okónkolo) Melvis Santa (vocals) Folasona Olorunsola (Batá: Itótele) Camila Celin (Sarod) Ehren Hanson Ttabla) Jay Gandhi (Bansuri) David Ellenbogen (Guitar) Arun Ramamurthy (Violin) Michael Gam (Bass) photo credit: Rob @ Pioneer Works

3 Degrees of Terence McKenna: Dennis McKenna, Alexandre Tannous and Greg Barris in conversation May 16, 2016

Show notes

I've never heard a radio show go off the rails like this one! Counterculture hero, ethnobotanist and "psychonaut" Dennis McKenna, in a freewheeling conversation with ethnomusicologist Alexandre Tannous and comedian Greg Barris. This was broadcast in NYC on the radio in 2013, when McKenna had just published his memoir The Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss about his wild experiences with his legendary brother Terence McKenna, who has been called the Timothy Leary of the 90's." The conversation hovers around the spaces where comedy, sound and ethnobotany meet the legacy of Terrance. Dennis McKenna is an American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author. He is the brother of well-known psychedelics proponent Terence McKenna and is a founding board member and the director of ethnopharmacology at the Heffter Research Institute, a non-profit organization concerned with the investigation of the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelic medicines. Greg Barris is a staple in New York’s downtown stand-up scene and is the creator of Heart Of Darkness: a psychedelic showcase of comedy, live music and fringe scientists. Comedians who have appeared on Heart of Darkness include Reggie Watts, Fred Armisen, Janeane Garofalo, Jim Gaffigan, Marc Maron, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Greg Behrendt, and Chelsea Peretti. Alexandre Tannous has been active as a musician, educator, composer, and as an ethnomusicologist. For the past eight years he has been researching the therapeutic and esoteric properties of sound from three different perspectives - Western scientific, Eastern philosophical, and shamanic societal beliefs. He one of the leaders of investigating the sound mediation experience.

Debo Band – Podcast 188 May 04, 2016

Show notes

Debo band explores the rich and varied traditions of Ethiopian music with a dose of funk, punk and soul. With a large instrumental ensemble and a charismatic singer Bruck Tesfaye it all adds up to an undeniable party band. We got to hang with the leader of this amazing group, Danny Mekonnen and here excerpts of their upcoming album Ere Gobez (FPE Records; May 20, 2016). They'll be playing in NYC with Antibalas May 18th at the Brooklyn Bowl. Debo Band is Bruck Tesfaye vocals Danny Mekonnen saxophones Gabriel Birnbaum tenor saxophone Danilo Henriquez trumpet and percussion Stephanie Baird trombone Jonah Rapino electric violin Kaethe Hostetter five-stringed violin Marié Abe accordion Brendon Wood guitar Arik Grier sousaphone PJ Goodwin bass Adam Clark drums

Román Díaz shares the history of the drum – Podcast 187 Apr 24, 2016

Show notes

A legendary percussionist, Román Díaz is a pillar of the New York City Afro-Cuban folkloric tradition and one of the music's great innovators. He is considered an Olú Aña or “keeper of the sacred drum” Before his Raga Cubana concert with the Brooklyn Raga Massive (we hope to share that soon!) he gave this workshop where he spoke of the legends, history and musical foundations of Afro-Cuban Music.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected